Method of humidifying air.



W. G. R. BRABMER. METHOD OF HUMIDIPYING AIR. APPLIOATION FILED JAn.1o.19oe.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

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i -UNiTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. R. BRAEMER, OF BUFFLO, N EW YORK, SSIGNOR TO WARREN WEBSTER &

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application sied January 41o, 190s. serial Nc. 410,1ss.

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. R. BRAB- ama, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Buffalo, county of companying drawings, which form a part` thereof. s

The object of my invention is to provide a method for producing and maintaininga predetermined fixed absolute humidity to the air delivered to a building or a compartment therein.

vMy object is also to provide capacity for ,maintaining any desired relative humidity in the building or room to'suit the requirements.

Incidentally to the above objects, I cause the air to be cleansed or purified.

In carrying my invention into practice, I firstheat the fresh air to such a degree as to give it a predetermined normal temperature that, when treated to a water spray or vapor of a given and constant temperature, 1t will absorb the desired amount of moisture to" give the absolute humidity required, and

this humldified air may, if not of the desired relative humidity and temperature, be reheate'd to raise it to the required temperature'v and to lower its relative humidity to that necessary and desired for said temperature, and such conditions may.be maintained by automatically varying the initial temperature given to the fresh air above orbelow the normal temperature to vary the humidity commensurately and inversely with the conditions occurring in the building or room being supplied with the air.

The invention may be commercially employed in apparatus comprismga chamber,

through which air is circulated by a blower and in which it is -treated with moisture, combined with means for supplying a spray or vapor of water at a constant temperature to the air in its passage through the chamber, means for varying the temperature of the air before being treated to the spray or vapor of water, and automatic means under the control of the conditions of the air after being treated to the spray or vapor'of water 55 for varying the initial temperature 4of the air in accordance with the conditions'of the air delivered to the building or room whereby' the absolute humidity of the air may remain constant or substantially constant.

My invention will b'e better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an air purifying apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same 65 on line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same; Fig. 4 is a cross section of one of the eliminator bars; and Fig. 5 is a cross section of a'modification of the eliminator bar shown in Fig. Ll.

A is the air chamber, B is the eliminator therein, C is the water spraying pipe, and H is the blower for causing thev air to be drawn through the chamber and discharged into the flue H leading to the building or room to be supplied with the humidied air. The incoming fresh air first passes through the tempering coils E which imparts to it the desired heat, and where the supply of steam to the said coils is not variable under regulation, the temperature vof the air which passes through the chamber A may be regulated by allowing more or less fresh air to pass through a by-pass under the regulation of a valve F'as more fully shown in Fig. 1. 85 By means of the coils E and the by-pass' valve F, a mixture of hot air and cool air may be provided in the chamber A which will give thev requisite amount of temperature necessary to enable the air to take up the desired quantity of moisture when 1t passes through the water sprays from the spraying pipe C. .After the heated air has humidiied to such a degree as to conbeen tain the predetermined absolute humidity, 'it 95 is passed through the eliminator B wherein the excess of moisture is removed and returned to the tank D. below the" spraying pipe and the eliminator. The water in the tank D is maintained at a constant temperature in any suitable manner. The particular means for maintaining this constant temperature is shown, for example, in this application as a steam nozzle K adapted to discharge directly into the water, a valve L to 10! control the How of steam, and a thermostatic rod M which under the influence of the heat of the water opens or closes the steam valve `to maintain the temperature of the water at that temperature which hasbeen predetermined upon. The thermostatic regulating device M may be so arranged that it may be adjusted by the screw m to Vary the time of opening and closing of thevalve, and consequently insure the temperature of the water in the tank being malntained constant at `higher or lower'temperature according to the requirements of the apparatus. Any other suitable thermostatic'regulator may be `employed to insure the temperature of the water spray with which the air is treated remaining constant. The water from the tank D is circulated through the spraying pipe C v by means of a pump I and pipe J leading from the Apump to the spraying pipe, as more fully shown in Fig. 2.

-R is a reheating device, and is designed to raise the temperature of the humidilied air to that which is required for the building or compartment therein to which the air is supplied. This reheatin device may be of any of thel well known c aracters and, for example, such as shown by the tempering coils vE combined with the valve and by-pass.

Ordinarily, a thermostatic device 1s ernployed with this reheating device for the purpose of. maintaining the temperature of the air; delivered to the room constant., These devices are not shown, as they form no special part of the present invention.

O is a motor of any suitable construction,

that shown being of the dia hragm variety,

and this motor' byl means o connections O -may operate either or both the valve F to the by-pass to open or close it and the steam valve F for the tempering coils E, the object being to automatlcally control the temerature of the air which ma be contained 1n the chamber A before reac ing the water spray. Thismotor O is operatedby com ressed air which asses from' a compressor s' through pi es Il P and a ressure reducing device KP of any suitab e character arranged at the junction of the ipes P2 P. N is a humidistat of any suitablb construction and may be arranged in the part-G of the chamber A intermediate'of the elimibo y and a humidity becomes too low, then t e vent in the humidistat is closed, andl this-.action allows the pressure of the air in the ipe P and motor to increase with theres tl that vat B5. The plates expansible bod If thei i aognes the motor Will close the valve F and thereby insure the air entering the chamber A being of a higher temperature, in which case it will absorb more .moisture from the water spray, and consequently have a greater absolute humidity. The operation of the humidistat and motor is such that they will operate the valves F or F or both of them (according as to whether either or both are employed) to vary the temperature of the air commensurately with the requirements so that the humidity of the air which is delivered to the room by the blower H shall be constant or substantially constant, both as to the absolute and relative humidities, and moreover that the said relative humidity may be constant with a definite temperature of the air in the room.

In place of or in conjunction with the humidistat N in the part G of the chamber A, I may employ a humidistat N in the room or compartment to be supplied with air, and this may be connected w1th the pipe P by a ipe P4. In fact, the humidistats may be ocated anywhere, so long as they are ali'ected by the air which has been treated to the humidifying apparatus. These humidistats are adjusted to operate for a given absolute or relative humidity. For example, the humidistat N might be adjusted with respect to the absolute humidity required, whereas the humidistat N may be adjusted with respect to the relative humidity.

Th'e eliminator B may be of any suitable construction, but the form illustrated in the drawing has been found excellently adapted for the urpose. This consists of three or more series of trough-shaped bars B', each series comprising bars arranged one above the other with spaces between them and the successive Aseries being staggered with relation to the next series adjacent, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. Each trough-shaped bar forms in its up er part a gutter in which the water may collect and 4run longitudinallyand be discharged at one end into a compartment A and by which it may be conveyed down into the tank D. These bars may, if desired, have slight obliquity, so as to induce the water to run to one end. The bars may be made as indicated in Fi s. 4 and 5.

Re errin to Fig. 4, the front riveted at s to the rear plate Bs ter has its lower edge extended plate B? and its upr plate B2 is which latbeyond the ed e bent inward as an B3 are arranged obliquely to each other and the Obliquity of these plates is in opposite directions so as to form substantially a V-shape cross section with obstructing shouldered 'portions B4 and B, which asidel from giving strength may v act to catch water and dirt.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5, the general arrangement of the parts is substantially similar to that of Fig. 4, except that in this case the plate B is not `so deep and the lower edge of the plate B is bent backward so as to form a channel or groove between the shoulder B4t and the bent portion of the plateI. In this case, the lowerfree edge of the plate B3 need-not extend beyond the plane of the inclined portion of theplate B2. s

In the operation of the machine, the moist air strikes the plates B2 and is deflected downward and around the portions B4, the latter catching any excessive moisture which may be driven downward along the surface of the plates B2 or carried in suspension by the air which strikes the shouldered portions B4. The water collected by these shouldered portions together with any dirt, such as soot, contained in the water globules, iscaused to flow downward into the trough-shaped bar immediately below and by it conveyed laterally out of the air circulation. The air which passes below the shouldered portions B*- strikes the plates Ba of the trough-shaped bars immediately below and" is guided upwardly against the shouldered portions B5 which remove any additional air or dirt, the

same running backward into the trough por-- tion of the bars, and thence laterally out of circulation of the air.

Having now described the general construction of the apparatus 'and the function of the various parts, I will now point out the manner in which the apparatus may be used for producing definite results which conform to the requirements specified in lthe tirs-t part of this specification. Assuming rthat the air which 1s to'be supplied to the room in the buildingr is .required to be at 70 Fahr. and 55 per cent, relative humidity` the following operation of the machine would produce this result. The air entering the chamber A would by means of the tcmpering coils E, supplemented by the bypass valve F be brought to approximately a normal temperature of 56 Fahr., and at this temperature it is brought into contact with water spray or vapor which by test will give to the humiditied air a temperature of approximately 55 Fahr. when leaving the eliminator B and containing -lgrains of moistureper cubic foot. This will give such an absolute humidity to the air at 55 temperature which, when said air is transferred b v the blower H through the reheating device R. may be brought to a temperature of 70 Fahr. with a relative humidity of 55. Having determined this condition by experiment. the operation of the apparatus may be maintained so as to continue to supply air into the room at 70 Fahr. and a humidity of 55 by means of the operation ,of the humidistats N or N in connection with the temperature regulating devices for the air preliminary to the treatment by the water spray or vapor. As before pointed out, should the humidity in the room fall below the normal, the humidistat N will instantly put the valves F or F or both of them into operation to increase the temperature of the Vair to be treated with the .waste spray or vapor above the predetermined normal temperature to enable it to reach a higher degree of humidity before being delivered to the blower, and in this way raising the humidity of the room until the proper humidity is again established, in which case the operation of the humidistat once more reduces the temperature of the air in the chamber A, bringing it to the predetermined normal condition. The same mode of regulation will take place under the control of the humidistat N, it only being necessary in this case to so adjust the humidistat. that it adapts itself to the conditions of absolute humidity in the chamber G as distinguished from the relative humidity in the room containing the humidistat N.

The objection to usingthe automatic control of the steam to the coils E is that the change of temperature in the coils E is slow, and consequently in the preferred form of apparatus the operation of a bypass valve F is more preferable. Thile both of these regulating valves F F may be employed, it is evident .that either may be dispensed with by properly proportioning the apparatus, but in practice we prefer to produce the regulation of the temperature of the inflowing air by means of the by-pass valve F In some cases heated air of detinite and constant temperature from other sources may be available and in such instances, and `where the relative humidity need not be very accurately maintained, the desired results may be secured by passing 4the said heated air through the spray of water of constant temperature, eliminating the excess of moisture and-subsequently raising the temperature to lower the humidity.

lVhile I have shown suitable apparatus in which to carry out my improved method, the invention may be. employed with any other form of apparatus adapted for the purpose. In this application I make no claim to the apparatus herein shown and described as the same forms subject matter of a divisional application Serial Number 443,050

-and tiled July 11th 1908.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lety ters Patent. is

1. The herein described method of treat- .ing air whereby the air delivered to the rooin may be maintained at a definite humidity and temperature, which consists in normally supplying heated air at a predetermined temperature to aqueous spray or .vapor of a constant temperature thereby 'giving to the air an absolute humidity, then -raised to the temperature required in the room.-

2. The herein described method of treating air whereby the air delivered to the room may be lmaintained at a definite humidity and temperature, which consists in normally supplying heated air at a predetermined temperature to aqueous spray or vapor of a constant temperature and removing the excess of moisture from the air whereby the air contains only the absolute humidity required per cubic foot, mechanically propelling said humidiiied air toward the room in which it is to be utilized and simultaneously therewith raising the tcmperature of the humidified air to approximately the temperature required in the room and thereby lowering the relative humidity thereof toi that desired, and maintaining the said condition of relative humidity by varying the temperature of the air relatively toits normal temperature before being treated by the aqueous spray or vapor for the purpose of varying the absolute humidity of the air before it is raised to the temperature required in the room.

, 3. The herein described method of treating air whereby the air deliv red to the room maybe maintained at a einite huymidltyA and temperature, which consists in normally supplying heated air at a predetermined temperature to aqueous spray orv vapor of a constant temperature thereby giving to the airan absolute humidity, then raising the temperature of the humidiied air to approximately the temperature required'in the room and thereby lowerin the relati've humidity thereof tothat deslred, and maintaining the said condition of relative humidity by varying the temperature of the air relatively to its normal temperature before being treated by the aqueous spray or vapor for the urpose of varying the absolute humidity ofp the air' before it is raised to the yteiniperature required in the i room by regulating the temperature of the incoming air before itis treatedto the aqueous spray or vapor to `vary the absolute humidity of the air before being delivered to the room and controlling the regulation of the temperature of the incomin Y air by means of the condition of the air a er being hrunidied.

4. The herein described method of treating air whereby the air delivered to the room may be maintained at a definite humidity and temperature, which consists in normally supplying heated air at a predetermined 'temperature to aqueous spray or vapor of a constant temperature thereb .giving to the air an absolutehumidity, t en raising the temperaturev of the humidified air to approximately the temperature required in the room and thereby lowering the relative humidity thereof to that desired, and, maintaining the said condition of relative humidity by varying the temperature of the air with respect to its predetermined normal temperature before ein treated by the aqueous spray or vapor or the purpose of varying the absolute humidity of the air,

and controlling the variations of the temperature ofthe said air delivered to the aqueous spray or vapor by means dependent upon the extent of the absolute humidity of the air after treatment to the aqueous spray or vapor. y

5. The herein described method of treating air whereby it may be delivered to the room at a definite humidity and temperature, consisting of heating fresh air, passing the heated air through a spray or vapor of hot water, maintaining the temperature of the heated water substantially constant, removing the excess of moisture from the huinidiied air, reheating the air to raise it to the desired degree of temperature before delivery to the room, and automatically regulating the temperature ofthe fresh air 1n- `versely with the change of condition of the humidity of the air after being humidified, whereby the air in the room may be maintained under a substantially constant condition as lto temperature and relative humidity.

6. The herein described method of treating air whereby it may be delivered tothe room in a humidiiied condition, which consists in passing heated air through a spray or vaporof heated water, maintaining the temperature of the heated Water substantially constant', removing the excess of moisture from the humidiied air, and reheating the air to raise it to the desired degree of temperature to lower its relative humidity before delivery to the room.

7. The herein described method of treating air whereby it may be delivered to the rpom `in a humidifed condition, which conr.sl'sts'ln passing 'heated air through a spray or vapor of water, maintaining the tempera- 'l In testimony of which in Jention, I have ture of th?1 water subsftantialiy confsltant, rehereunto set my hand.

moving t e excess o moisture om the 4 humidied air, and re-heating the air Yto v G' R' BRAEMER 5 raise it tothe desired degree of tem erature i Witnesses:

to lower its relative humidity be ore de- R. M. HUNTER,

livering to 'the room. I R. M. KELLY. 

